Traffic signal



May 30, 1933. LE GORRE 1,911,576

TRAFFI C S IGNAL Arriv/vtr.

May 30, 1933. l J. LE GQRRE 1,911,576

TRAFFIC S IGNAL Filed Deo". 14, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 /V/fA/ESS.'

Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED srA'rn 'rer e JEAN L. LE GORRE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WELSBACH TRAFFIC SEGNAL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE `TRAFFIC' SIGNAL Application led December 14, 1931A. Serial No. 580,935,`

The National Conference on Street andtalre, there is disclosed a housing l having Highway'Safety has issued a manual on street traffic signs, signals Vand Ymarkings prepared by American Engineering Council. lThis manual .recommends that the street traiiic signs be standardized and that signs of dierent outline be'used for different purposes. For example, signs octagonal, circular, diamond shape or rectangular in outline be used for varying purposes so that the observer upon noting the outline of a traffic sign may know the general purpose of such a sign.

l have invented a traffic signal including a housing upon which interchangeable adaptors may be mounted. These adaptors permit the use of the same housing for different shaped signs, round octagonal, diamond, square etc. Y

More specifically, Vmy device includes a housing, a plurality of light sources in said housing, a universal adjustable mounting for said housing, a flashing mechanism within said housing, a diffusing glass within said housing, an interchangeable adaptor connected to said housing, and aI shield carried by said adaptor and spaced from said glass.

For the further exposition of my invention reference may be had to the annexed drawings and specification at the end whereof my invention will be specifically pointed out and claimed.

ln the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sect-ion through my device.

Figure 2 is a partial cross section of a modification.

Figure 3 is a front view of one form of adaptor and shield.

Figure i is a front view of another form of adaptor and shield.

Figure 5 is still anothei'form of adaptor and shield, and,

Figure 6 is yet another form of adaptor and shield.

Figure 7 is a rear view of the housing 10 and adaptor mounted thereon.

ln that embodiment of my device chosen for illustration in the drawings from among other embodiments which my device may a plurality vof light sources generally indicated at 11 therein. These light sources are indicated as electric light bulbs but may y be any other desired source of light. Light sources 11 are' conveniently received in standard sockets 12 which may be mounted directly on housing 10 by meansof screws 13 or other attaching means. Sources 11 are connected into'eircuit by wires, not shown '60 in the drawings as they are well understood. Cooperating with light sources 11 I may, if desired, use a flasher generally indicated at 14 connected in circuit with the sources 11. y

'A convenient type of such flasher is that 65 illustrated in my copending application, Ser. No. 572,181, filed Oct. 30, 1931. Flasher 14 is conveniently located on aI door 15 which is mounted onpivots 16 on housingkl() and which interfits with housing 10 so as to be 70 weatherproof.

Housing 10 is supported on a universal socket generally indicated at 17 and consist- Ving of a support 18 having a cup shaped end, a hemisphere 19 serving to clamp a '5 bracket 20 against support 18 and connected thereto by a bolt or similar device 21. It will thus be seen that universal socket 17 provides a means for adjustably mounting housing 10 in any desired position. 8 At its front housingl() may carry a diffusing glass 22 which is preferably mounted therein by screws 23 and a resilient gasket not shown. Screws 23 also serve to secure Y, adaptors 24 to housing 10. These adaptors 85 24 are interchangeable and may have front portions 124: of various shapes in outline, such as round, octagonal, diamond, square etc. and have Lrear portions 224 fitting with housing 10. At their front ends adaptors 24 `90 carry shields 25. These shields 25 are conveniently perforated to permit the passage of light therethrough, the perforations being of such shape to form words, 'indicating characters etc. A particular feature of such perforations are the marginal 'perforations 26 which outline theV shape of the sign thus giving a general indication of the character of the signal. Shield 25 is securely attached to adaptor 24 which in turn is firmly connected to housing 10. Because of the close connections between the diffusing glass 22 and door 15 with housing 1() the interior of housing 10 is completely weatherproof. Shield 25 is spaced away from diffusing glass 22 so that the glass is protected from malicious or inadvertent blows.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a modified form of my device in which the housing 10 carries a light source 11 and its cooperating socket 12 mounted upon a supplemental mounting 112 so asto secure the light source opposite a curved portion of the housing 10. Spaced on the opposite side of diffusing glass 22 from source 11 there is provided adaptor 24 having a shield 25 thereon. In addition to the perforations 26, shield 25 carries a bulls eye or lens 27 of transparent material which is secured to shield 25 by brackets or other fastening means 28. Bulls eye 27 is preferably located directly opposite one of the lamp sources 11.

In Figures 3, 1, 5 and 6 there are illustrated various shapes which the adaptors 24 and the shields 25 may take. It will be noted that each of the shields 25 is preferably provided with a marginal perforation 26 which outlines the shape of the shield when the light sources are operating.

In Figure 3 a further feature of my invention is that the shield 25 carries perforations 29 which may conveniently form words. If desired there may be provided between perforations 29 and the light sources which illuminate them a shade 30 which may be of colored material. Shade 30 is conveniently secured to shield 25 by fingers or brackets 31 similar to the fingers or brackets 28.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated another feature of my invention. Shield 25 carries a plurality of buttons 82. These buttons may be either transparent or reliecting lenses of a type well known in this art. These buttons may conveniently project through shield 25 so that the space between shield 25 and diffusing glass 22 provides a convenient space for the reception of these buttons.

I do not intend to be limited in the practice of my invention save as the scope of the prior art and of the attachedclaims may require.

I claim:

l. An interchangeable trafiic sign comprising a housing, a source of light within said housing, a. plurality of interchangeable adaptors each having a front portion of different shape in outline having perforations therein conforming to the shape of said outline and each having a rear portion adapted .to t with and to be connected to said housing.

2. An interchangeable traiiic sign comprising a housing, a light source within said housing, a plurality of interchangeable adaptors each having a front portion of different shape in outline having perforations therein conforming to the shape of said outline and each having a rear portion adapted to fit with and to be connected to said housing and a diffusing glass clamped between said housing and the selected one of said adaptors.

3. An interchangeable traiiic sign including in combination a housing, a light source in said housing, a plurality of interchangeable adaptors each having a front portion of different shape in outline and each having a rear portion adapted to fit with and to be connected to said housing, a perforated shield carried by each of said adaptors, and a diffusing glass carried by said housing and clamped between said housing and the selected one of said adaptors and spaced an appreciable distance away from said shield. a l 4. An interchangeable trailic sign including in combination a housing, a light source within said housing, a plurality of interchangeable adaptors each having a front portion of different shape in outline and a rear portion adapted to fit with and to be connected to said housing, a perforated shield carried by each of said adaptors, some of the perforations in said shields being marginally arranged to show the outline of said shield when the sign is illuminated, and a dilfusing glass clamped between said housing and the selected one of said adaptors.

' JEAN L. LE GORRE. 

